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You are here: Home » Spices and condiments

Crazy Good Shawarma Seasoning Recipe

Aug 13, 2023 -May contain affiliate links

3.3K shares
  • 354
Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe· 4.9 from 16 reviews

Make a batch of this crazy good shawarma seasoning, and it will become your go-to blend for everything, from veggies to your favorite protein. Trust us! Try it, and you will thank us later!

Bowls and spoons with spices for shawarma spice mix

What is Shawarma?

Shawarma is a traditional Middle Eastern street food that has been gaining popularity worldwide over the years. It's a heavily spiced and marinated piece of beef, lamb, chicken, or turkey placed on a rotation rotisserie stick that continuously cooks the meat as the outer layers are shaved off in thin slices and usually served in a fluffy, pillowy pita bread pocket. As with any street food, no silverware is required!

What to Serve With the Food You Spice with Shawarma Spice Blend

We like to prepare a vegan version using our shawarma seasoning with jackfruit, seitan, mushrooms, or chickpeas. Then we serve it with the following recipes:

  • This 5 Minute Hummus or to be out of the box with this beet hummus
  • Tabbouleh
  • Tahini Sauce
  • Tomato and Cucumber Salad
  • Pickles

What makes this dish so good and almost irresistible is the wonderful spice mixture used to prepare it. The combination of warm spices infuses the meat hveggie meat in our case), vegetables, seitan, chickpeas, mushrooms, or jackfruit with tons of flavor and keeps you wanting to go back for more!

You can also use our shawarma spice blend recipe as a dry rub, add it to a marinade, or use it in a saute. Brighten up any dish you make with shawarma seasoning by adding a dash or two of lemon juice before you serve it.

How To Make The Best Shawarma Seasoning Recip Video

Ingredients for Shawarma Seasoning

What spices are in our crazy good Shawarma spice mix?

  • sweet paprika
  • allspice
  • cumin
  • turmeric
  • cinnamon
  • garlic powder
  • onion powder
  • ground ginger
  • Aleppo pepper or hot pepper flakes (optional for heat)

The best thing about this Shawarma spice mix is that it works beautifully with protein and vegetables! We love it on tofu for our vegan Tacos Al Pastor, portabello mushrooms for our Shawarma Veggie Tacos with Tahini Guacamole and cauliflower. Leave us a comment if you would like to see a shawarma cauliflower sandwich recipe that tastes amazing!

How to Make Shawarma Seasoning

Homemade spice blends like this one are incredibly easy to make. Just place all of the ingredients in a jar and shake it until the colors are evenly distributed. If you are unsure it is mixed, stir it with a fork in the jar. Before using the seasoning later, give it a good shake in the jar.

a bowl with shawarma spice mix

How to Store Our Shawarma Spice Mix

Store the shawarma seasoning in a glass jar fitted with a tight lid and place it in your spice cabinet or drawer. Use within 6-9 months if it lasts that long...

Variations for Homemade Shawarma Seasoning

This warm and delicious spice blend has as many variations as it does cooks who use it! Coriander, black pepper, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper are all commonly added to this fragrant seasoning.

Recipes that Use Our Homemade Shawarma Seasoning

  • Rice Bowl - Chickpeas and Shawarma Spices
  • Shawarma Spiced Chickpeas
  • Shawarma Veggie Tacos With Tahini Guacamole
  • Mediterranean Vegan Sandwich
  • Easy Hummus Recipe with Shawarma Mushrooms

Did you like our crazy good shawarma spice mix?  

If you enjoyed this recipe, it would help us tremendously if you left us a star rating in the comments below or on the recipe card. Do you have any questions about the recipe? Do you need a swap for any of the ingredients? We are here to help, just leave us a question in the comments below.

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Bowls and spoons with spices for shawarma spice mix

Shawarma Seasoning Recipe


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 16 reviews

  • Author: Vicky & Ruth
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: ⅓ cup 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free
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Description

Make a batch of this crazy good shawarma seasoning, and it will become your go-to blend for everything, from veggies to your favorite protein. Trust us! Try it, and you will thank us later!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tbsp sweet paprika
  • 1 tbsp allspice
  • 2tsp cumin
  • 2 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • ½ tsp Aleppo pepper or hot pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Combine all the spices in a bowl and mix well. Store in a glass jar with a tight lid

Notes

This post was originally published on July 18, 2019

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: Spices
  • Method: Raw
  • Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 teaspoon
  • Calories: 11
  • Sugar: .2
  • Sodium: 5.8
  • Fat: 0.2
  • Saturated Fat: 0
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0.2
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 2.8
  • Fiber: 1.5
  • Protein: .4
  • Cholesterol: 0

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @mayihavethatrecipe on Instagram and hashtag it #mayihavethatrecipe #tahiniandturmeric

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Deborah Baumel

    July 19, 2019 at 8:18 am

    I would love your cauliflower shawarma recipe.

    Reply
    • Vanessa

      June 30, 2020 at 9:21 am

      This shawarma spice mix is soooo good! And so much better that anything I find bottled in a store.

      Reply
    • Sally Harris

      January 07, 2021 at 8:45 pm

      I want that cauli recipe too !

      Reply
      • Vicky & Ruth

        January 10, 2021 at 8:36 pm

        Recipe Coming Soon!

        Reply
  2. Meg

    May 26, 2020 at 3:53 pm

    Amazing flavor! This takes my favorite chicken shawarma bowl to the next level and I can’t wait to try using it in other things. Like cauliflower. Yummy!

    Reply
    • Vicky & Ruth

      May 26, 2020 at 8:21 pm

      Thank you so much Meg! Enjoy!

      Reply
  3. Pongodhall

    August 26, 2020 at 5:22 am

    Thank you for emphasizing the vegetables + ideas for them. I would like to see a sandwich idea please, at the moment I do a shawarma hummus, etc. Board or roasted cauliflower in this particular rub.

    Reply
    • Vicky & Ruth

      August 31, 2020 at 10:11 am

      We will work on it!

      Reply
  4. Mayra

    September 06, 2020 at 10:22 am

    Please recipe for cauliflower shawarma sandwich.

    Reply
    • Vicky & Ruth

      September 06, 2020 at 2:08 pm

      Great Idea! We will work on it!

      Reply
  5. Susan G

    October 21, 2020 at 5:09 pm

    How about using smoked paprika for 'sweet'? Would that give the food an effect like the cooking process for shawarma?

    Reply
    • Vicky & Ruth

      October 26, 2020 at 10:38 am

      You could definitely use smoked paprika or a combination of sweet and smoked. Let us know how you like it if you decide to try it.

      Reply
  6. Rebeca

    December 30, 2020 at 2:18 pm

    I love the combination of the spices! Really tasty

    Reply
    • Vicky & Ruth

      December 31, 2020 at 1:47 pm

      Thank you, Enjoy!

      Reply
  7. Polly

    April 18, 2021 at 1:08 am

    Hi, Once i have made the spice mix how much should of the shawarma spice mix is good for let's say 1lb of beef or chicken?

    Reply
    • Vicky and Ruth

      May 10, 2021 at 12:41 pm

      It depends on how spiced you like it. 1-2 tablespoons should be enough. Enjoy!

      Reply
  8. Ron Torres

    June 17, 2021 at 9:03 pm

    This tasted as though I had been marinating it for hours, which I have, so glad I found this and will forever use this recipe!

    Reply
    • Vicky and Ruth

      June 28, 2021 at 11:59 am

      Thank you! We are so glad you liked it!

      Reply
      • Brittany wilkins

        July 05, 2022 at 8:34 pm

        My Lebanese mother in law adds a secret ingredient, ORANGE JUICE! A couple splashes or so should work,it also tenderizes the meat when marinating. She is well known for her shawarma, her recipe is even used at a Arabic restaurant out here in Dearborn, Michigan.

        Reply
        • Vicky and Ruth

          July 07, 2022 at 11:37 am

          So interesting and cool. I would have never thought of adding orange juice to the shawarma spice mix. I will definitely try it.

          Reply
  9. ThatGuy

    July 16, 2021 at 5:00 pm

    Darn good Shawarma seasoning recipe.

    Had a hankering for that flavor, grabbed some left over chicken the kids will never eat the leftovers of pulled it off to the bone, (took the skin too) and reached for my seasoning only to find I had nearly reached the last of it some time ago. Quick Google landed me here. It's funny every time I refill that jar I'm pretty sure it's a different recipe. Haven't come across one yet that's been anything other than delicious. Only had half the needed paprika, so threw in a tbsp of sweet ancho chili powder.

    Put a pot on low heat, poured in some sesame oil, put the chicken in, ground some salt, 2 tbsp of shawarma seasoning, a sprinkle of brown sugar and mixed it up and let it soak up the flavor, mooshed it down, turned up the heat, flipping it now and then till it was all crispy on the outside. Scooped the chicken out with a slotted draining spoon and put it to the side to drain. tossed onions and sweet peppers into the now shawarma flavored sesame oil, cooked them through.

    Had a bowl. Good. Got some tahini. Real Good. Put it in a wrap with cheese and hot sauce. Good. Another wrap with tzatziki and feta. Good. Is there anything Shawarma doesn't go great with? I haven't found it.

    Reply
  10. Robert W Easton

    July 22, 2021 at 5:04 pm

    My fave schwarma place is Bar Bar in Beirut, but maybe I can come close in my own kitchen with this spice mix. I don't have a giant rotiss, of course, but sheet pan sliced chicken or meat may do just as well. Veggie options too!!

    Reply
  11. Rita

    December 26, 2021 at 7:41 am

    Love the suggested vegan choices plus the traditional options. Will definitely try it

    Reply
    • Vicky and Ruth

      December 26, 2021 at 10:11 pm

      Thank you Rita! Let us know what you think of the Shawarma spice mix, if you do!

      Reply
  12. Phyllis W

    December 26, 2021 at 12:23 pm

    Excellent. Now I do not have to buy already prepared spice mixes that might be older than 6 months old. Thank you so much for this, as well as the other delicious recipes!

    Reply
    • Vicky and Ruth

      December 26, 2021 at 10:09 pm

      Thank you So much Phyllis!

      Reply
  13. Margaret

    February 03, 2022 at 7:48 pm

    Delicious! I will use it on meat too!

    Reply
  14. Karen

    February 20, 2022 at 7:46 pm

    I have always wanted to make my own shawarma and you have hit the nail on the head. Kudos and Thank you!!!

    Reply
    • Vicky and Ruth

      March 01, 2022 at 8:34 am

      Thank you so much Karen!

      Reply
  15. Mary

    August 23, 2022 at 3:29 pm

    So amazingly good!

    Reply
    • Vicky and Ruth

      September 05, 2022 at 3:26 pm

      It means so much to us that you like it! Thank you!

      Reply
  16. Ivonne

    August 14, 2023 at 10:52 am

    This is a fantastic Shawarma seasoning and I grew up eating Shawarma!

    Reply

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Welcome!

We are Vicky & Ruth, authors of the vegan cookbook Tahini and Turmeric. Born and raised in a multicultural Jewish-Lebanese-Spanish household our culinary journey began in Barcelona, Spain where we learned from our family the rich flavors of Lebanon, Turkey, Israel, Morocco, and Spain. From our mother's fragrant Lebanese dishes to our grandmother's secret Sephardic Turkish specialties, our Moroccan friend's fragrant recipes, our sister's vibrant Israeli creations, and our neighbor's authentic Spanish fare, each dish was a key that unlocked new exciting yumminess.

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